Last summer I went on a vacation in Canada.  I brought back this one dollar coin and I want to give it to one of you this morning.  Who would like to have this coin?   If you want it, all you have to do is pick it up.

Oh, one thing I forgot to tell you is that you have to pick it up using only one finger!  That makes it pretty difficult, doesn't it?  To pick something up, your finger really needs the help of the thumb.  With the help of the thumb, it is pretty easy.  There is one other way you could get it.  You could ask me, and I would give it to you.  

A lot of people go through life trying to do everything on their own.  They refuse to accept help from anyone and they certainly would never ask for help from anyone.  Do you ever act that way?  Do you ever refuse to ask for help even when you need it?  We all need help at times.  We need help from other people and we need help from God.  We can always count on God to help us if we will just ask.  The Bible says, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Do you need something in your life today?  Will you be willing to pray and ask God for his help, or will you insist on doing it on your own?

Jesus, you told us that when we ask the Father for something in your name, he will give it to us.  Help us to be willing to ask instead of trying to do everything on our own.  Amen.